Esnault-pelterie



NAULT-PELTERIE Re. 23,494

May 20, 1952 R, ES

APPARATUS FOR THE lRAPID VAPORIZATION OF WATER BY MEANS OF A SOLID COMBUSTIBLE Original Filed Aug. 29, 1945 2 SHEETS--SHEET l 24 :-1 q 25 l( l f I l l v l ...l l n L A: L( "ul/ May 20, 1952 R. EsNAUL'r-PELTERIE APPARATUS FOR THE RAPID VAPORIZATION OF' WATER BY MEANS OF A SOLID COMBUSTIBLE Original Filed Aug. 29, 1945 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 uuuu-usuuv A OQA/Eys, l

Reissued May 20, 1952 ICE APPARAi-s Fou THE Rii vAPoRIzA- 'rIoN oF WATER BY MEANSy 0F A SOLID COMBUSTIBLE Robert snauylnt-flelterie, Geneva. Switzerland, as-

DInvetios Scientifiques', Luxemburg, a firm f Luxemburg" Original No; 2,526,339, dated October 17, 11950Serial N95 613,390',- Augustm, 1945;; nAppli c ati on for reissue December 11, 1951, Serial N o'.- 260,964

Matter enclosed in heavy brackets appears in the original patent but forms no part of this reissue specification;` matter printed in italics indicates the additionsV made' by reissue.

In boilers for the rapid vapdreatio [vaporisation] of water that are in current use, the quarttities of Water and fuel supplied to the" boiler afe regulated according to the amount of steam' fe'- quired. Such a regulation of the fuel postulates that the latter should be fluid and thus" the s'e f solid fuel is precluded. Y y

An object of the present invention is t IlW the use of S'Olid fuel' fdr such type beile". The invention relates to an apparatus forr the vwiqiz'd [instantaneous] vaporization of Water by r'eas of a solid fuel. This apparatus is characterized in that it comprises ari air-supply device surrounded by a fuel tank and having beloiv it a space forming the fire-room into Which tlevfw-uel slides down aridl forms a` circular crumbling crater, a system of" tubes fed with Water and situated in [on] part of the course followed 'by the gases of combustion, a heat-insulated combustion chamber, surrounded by the air-supplyvdevice, situated between the said cra-ter and the tube system, and of sufficient volume toI give the gases coming from the crater time to complete their combustion reactions before reaching the" tube system, and means for siIn'ultaneously regulating the delivery of Water supplied to the said-system and the delivery' Of combustion airl accordingto the amount of steam requi'ed, the air-supply device directing the' pre-heated' air in such a way that it licks the surface of' thel craterv from top to bottom and in a general whirlingmvement which is iiizpav'ted' [propagated to the exhaust gases.

Experience shows that, tharllsto this arranger ment, the ihtrsty 0f the Combustin OIIOWSL] in a faithful and immediate manner, the variations in the supply of the combustion air and that it takes place with a rati of carburettig that hardly varies; cons'eciue'itly,V the regula-tion of the air alone produces an` immediately resporisive regulation of the' supply of' heat generated and, in correlation, of that of the steam. l

To obtain at any moment the supply' ofa steam required, it suflices, thef1`,tolsfu that the coibustion air and the Water are delivered' in a given ratio and to regulate these ,co'niectedv `deliveries 0f combustion air and' vllafei"` byi'kr'l'g tHe'Ya'y practicallyv proportionally` at any" or'et ac'- cording to the amount of steam required". The water supply may be regulated acco gy to that of the air or, inversely, that Of the air'accrdi'fg to that of the Water. l

The tWO fluids' ail' arid' Water' Ia'y'ivitf' a'df ntage be madeA to' eiiec't their" courses in sta es situated athwart those regions' Where the heat is liable to' escape from the apparatusl towards the outside, so as' to' intercept it and then to restore itI to the apparatus. These' courses shoui'q, then, be contrived in such av way that the said fluids" reach' progressively hotter regions in the* measure in' which their" ovvr temperature increases 7thIfc'yuglr thisrecupefatio'n.

` The' fuel, which sudesdown into the ure-room by'giiavi'ty, may With advantage be heated, thus dried and even b`e" more f less pre-distilled before reaching' the nre-zone'.

The means for simultaneously regulating the Walter Supply" aid the cribus'tioIi-air supply may to, for example, a gjrfpuip for the water and a; Rts ventilator f' the air, Oi" a piston-'pump for the Water arid a Roots'4 ventilator f the air'. or; agi, a centrifugal pump for the Watef and als a centrifugal fan `fr" `the air: the deliveries frni1 these pumps r fars are determined respectively by the' resi'stz'lnce` t6 the flovv f the` Water the tube system" and t the` flow o'f the gases in tri'` conduit-s through which they' flow' arid depending" on the speed at these' pumps or faris'are sdetofevoiv. s g

mi me appended da fig Fig. 1 represents ir'i vertical cross-section, as an' example and dia- 'varnm'atically o'r'ie embodiment' of an apparatus i' accorda "e with' the inve'zitiii. Fig". 2 is al diagramma ce1 detail view of the" water' tutes ad Fig', 3 illustats a mafior'ueti'ic device for controlling the o'ie'ratcn o'f the apparatus. l l

broken-upsolid fuel 2 (Wood, coke, coal, peat, coa1,.e1io;r and thus' constitutes a' fuel' tank. It rnese'fitsu at its lower part' a; soie 3 of a truncated-cone snaps formed by ai tate wound in a conicali sonja-1', with' jom'od windings',- th whole of when forms one' of the recuperato? stages mentioned above'. A passage 4 left operi in the* @entre o'f this sonar to snow the' fuel' and ashes' to pass' through'. Ari evacuadas 5 supported by a tray e situated below the pas'- sj'ge Il' and torrie by a einer 1. The distance between the tray' 5j (sind consequently the upper part or 5*) and' trie passage Hs adjustable'. The' iswofkedby's de'vfo'elot shown. Qwing to' the'moverh'eit 0f the ch'ai 5,A the ashes for-feed' over die" passage 4` can fali to" the bottom 0i thereceptacle' I' so aste be evacuated through the opening s.

AInthe central fitted bod'y of n lovvei" p'art f which" constitutes a ceimbustior'i region or die rec@striscia l-{Ai's a general cylindrical shape,the

3 chamber 9, below which the combustible forms a circular crumbling crater I0. The cylindrical body is constituted in its main upper part by two concentriclfal] shells and I2 of [in] sheetmetal and is internally protected in its lower part by a lining |3 of refractory material forming the wall of the combustion chamber 9.

The lining I3 encloses, within [inl its thickness, conduits |4 and the materials of which it is composed may preferably be chosen so that its inner cylindrical half is a better conductor of heat than its outer cylindrical shaft. The air intended to sweep the crumbling crater I is drawn in at the top of the cylindrical body I I-I2 and passes into the space I5 between the two shells and I2, thence into the conduits I4; in this space I5 the air performs another of the aforementioned recuperator stages. The lower extremities of the conduits I4 are directed downwards and are laterally inclined so that the air which issues from them sweeps over the crumbling crater I0 in a general whirling movement. The combustion gases then rise through the central cavity formed by the cylindrical body I2.

In this central cavity and situated near the inner face of the shell |2 is helical tube I6 representing the third recuperator stage, the latter having non-contiguous coils [being discontinuous] owing to the fact that the :pitch of its windings gradually increases from top to bottom. The lower end of the tube IB communicates at I1 with a system of tubes.

This system of tubes is divided up into three sections connected in series; the lowest one, I8, called the initial vaporization section, receives the water coming from the tube IB; the uppermost section I9, called the vaporization section, receives, through the tube 20, the water and/or the steam coming up from the section I8, and the intermediate section 2|, called the superheating section, receives through the tube 22 the steam issuing from the region I9. The tubes of this system are split up into increasing numbers of tubes as shown diagrammatically in Fig. 2, thus offering a gradually increasing passage cross-section as the water vaporizes and as the amount of steam increases. The forks in each set of tubes are very long so as to deviate the fluid in circulation as little as possible with a view to reducing the loss of pressure. If necessary, the diameter of the tubes may gradually increase from one set of tubes to the next set.

. The superheating section 2| ends in a steam collector 23, the cross-section of which is actually greater than shown.

A tube 24, situated at the top of the receptacle I, feeds the apparatus with water through one of the means described above. This tube forms a coil 25, it also constitutes a recuperator stage in that part of the cylindrical body which is situated above the tube system. This coil 25 is connected, through a tube 26, to the sole 3, which is connected, through a tube 21, to a water circulation ring 28, provided at the base of the shell II. The water, having flowed around this case, is led by a tube 29 to the top of the helical tube I6. The tubes 21 and 29 cross the fuel tank in a streamlined guard 30 which is high and narrow so as not to hinder the fall of the fuel. Two other similar guards 3| are placed at 120 distance round the cylindrical body with the purpose of keeping the latter, towards its lower part, in place in the receptacle I.

Between the water-supply tube 24 and the steam collector 23, the water and/or the steam 4 pass through the different parts of the apparatus in the following order: coil 25, tube 26, sole 3, tube 21, ring 28, tube 29, helical tube'l, tube section I8, tube 20, tube section I9, the tube 22, tube section 2|, to arrive finally at the steam collector 23.

The apparatus described works as follows:

The broken up fuel 2 contained in the receptacle slides down by gravity as it is gradually consumed into the fire-room 32 and forms the crumbling crater I0. The ashes fall through the passages 4 under the influence of the movements of the chain 5 and are removed [can be evacuated] through the opening 8.

YThe air which has to sweep over the crumbling crater I0 is drawn through the top of the apparatus into the space I5 through which it flows downwards. This air then enters the conduits |4 of the refractory lining |3 as shown by the arrows 33, to issue from them intoI the reroom 32, where it sweeps in a general whirling movement over the surface of the crumbling crater Ill. This sweeping air, progressively heated while flowing through the space I5, takes on, in the conduits I4, a high temperature owing to the heat transmitted by the combustion gases which rise in a counter-current inside the combustion chamber 9; the heat thus acquired is brought back into the fire-room 32, where it raises the temperature of and [an] improves the combustion.

Experience shows that, in these conditions, the fuel burns entirely mito [in] CO2 and H2O, so that the heat generated is practically proportionate to the quantity of air supplied.

The combustion gases issuing from the firercom rise through the combustion chamber 9, the volume of which is suicient for them to complete in it their combustion reactions; pursuing their course in the cylindrical body I2, they then flow successively through the initial vaporization section I8, the superheating section 2| andthe vaporization section |9, and finally that of the water-heating coil 25, which completes the proper exhaustion of their residual heat.

The feed-water for the apparatus is supplied through the tube 24 in a controlled output. It flows downwards into the coil 25, then into the sole 3, then reaches [gains], through the tube 21, the circulation ring 28, where it is further heated while at the same time cooling that part of the shell which is closest [close] to the crater I0. Having risen through the tube 2S, it afterwards ows down into the helical tube I6, where its heating is completed while at the same time it protects [is protecting] the shell I2 against overheating by the combustion gases. The pitch of the windingsof this tube gradually increases from top to bottom; the degree of this increase is determined by the nature of the combustible to be burned in the apparatus. The rate of change of the pitch [It] will be correspondingly less as the caloric power of the combustible is higher, in order that the air circulating in the space I5 shallV not reach an excessive temperature. The length of the tube I6 is such that the water which passes through it remains almost completely in the liquid state. This water, thus heated, passes at |1 into the bottom of the tube system and rises through the section I8, where it begins to vaporize; it then flows, through the tube 20, to the foot of the section I9, through which it travels upwards and vaporizes for the greater part. The moist steam thus produced is brought back through the tube 22 to the tcp of the section 2I, through which it travels down- Wards, being dried and then superheated. As the fluid passing through the pipe system I1" gradually expands as it Vaporizes, the passage open to it must gradually increase in cross-section; that is why it has been previously indicated that the original tube at the foo-t of the section I` is later split up into successive sets` of tubes. The steam generated finally reaches the collector 23. The speed at which the fluid ilows through the tubeA system is everywherev kept high enough for the water and steam to remain mixed; however, it is seen that, in the course followed by the water and steam, the precaution has been taken that the parts traversed downwardly [gone through downwards]-i. e., the coil 25, the tube 26', the descending part of the tube 21, the helical tube IG-are gone through only by the water not yet vaporized or containing, towards the foot of the tube I6, only a very slight portion of steam,

the speed of the flow being sufficient to carryv along this slight portion with the water'.

The sections I8 and I9, where the vaporization really takes place, as well as the tube 2U which connects them, are, on the contrary traversed upwardly [gone through upwardsl so that steam pockets liable to cause explosions cannot form there.

The vaporization being practically complete at the top of the section I9, there descends into the tube 22 steam containing only a suspension of water globules; the drying of this steam is completed and it is superheated in the section 2 I, also traversed downwardly [gone through downwards] In the collector 2'3- the steam is not only dry but also superheated.

The kindling and rekindling of the apparatus may be advantageously effected by means of a fire-box 35 ntted with a grate 3"6 on which more or less small pieces of wood 31 have been laid. This nre-box being introduced into the opening 8, a partial vacuum [depression] is created inside the apparatus by forced suction of the gases; the entry [arrival] of air into the space I5 is shut off so as to compel [oblige] the combustion air to enter through the aperture 39 in the firebox 35; and the wood 31- is ignited. The flame is transmitted through an extension 40 to the fuel resting on the evacuating chain 5, the fire-box may then be withdrawn, the opening 8 closed and the normal air intake restored throughI the space I5. Simultaneously with these operations, the water circulation is set going. When the re is burning thoroughly, the pressure rises in the tube system. As, at the beginning of the operation, water and not steam will be evacuated by the collector 23, this water should not be driven [directed on] to the apparatus using the steam (piston engine, turbine, etc.)`, but should be allowed to escape or [it may be] brought back to the feed-pump through the condenser. For example, for this purpose, one or several safetyvalves (not shown) formi-ng a return [short] circuit may be provided between the steam outlet 23 and the condenser. The apparatus using steam being cut oir, the water and the steam will travel round a closed cycle: apparatus according to the invention, safety-valves, condenser, feed-pump and said apparatus. As soon as the last-named has attained its proper temperature, the apparatus using the steam will be put into circuit. The safety-valve or valves will then close automatically and function only occasionally to short-circuit the cycle of steam in the case where the pressure exceeds the normal working level.

6 If the apparatus using the steam has an open exhaust, the safety-valve or valves shouldl lead directly into the open air.

The regulation of the supplies of water and combustion air is such that it should hrst ensure a practically constant ratio between the Water supply and the air supply, this ratio to be determined according to the particular characteristics of each apparatus considered, and thence an amount oi water and air corresponding to the instantaneous requirement in steam. In other words, the sup-plies of water and air being regulated in relation to each other, these two connected supplies are, at any moment, regulated in accordance with the power required-i. with the quantity of steam absorbed.

With this object, a inanometrilc diaphragm or a corrugated metallic tube 5B (Fig. 3) may be used which would receive on one of itsfaces the pressure taken near the collector 23.

For example, as shown in Fig. 3,- a corrugated tube 59 is mounted in a cylinder 5l connected by a pipe 5S with the steam collector 23, while the interior of the tube 59 is connected to the atmosphere. The corrugated tube 59 is provided with a cap 6I on which a spring 63 bears witha pressure adjustable by means of a screwed` nut 6E.

The pressure of the steam compresses the pleated tube 5'9' and the spring (i3 until it' balances the counterpressure' exerted thereby. To the cap ei? is secured a rod B9 adapted to act through levers 4I', 42 and 43 on al control for example an electric rhcostat 44, which in its turn acts on theA con-trol of a variable-speed motor 45 fed from a current supply m6 driving simultaneously the air-pump 4T and the water-pump 48 so as to govern their deliveries without practically changing the` ratio between them', The action of this group` of controls would be to lessen the water supply in the case of a rise in pressure at 23 and to increase it in the case ci fall in pressure. All these controls may bel of any current type they are contrived in such a manner' that their action1 will' cease as soon asi the pressure at the connector 23 resumes its normal value either by rising or by falling.

As can readily be understood, the working of the apparatus in accordance with the invention is very pliable in the sense that it can supply per unit of time amounts of steam which can vary within large lim-its. It is sufficient tor control the combustion air supply and the water supply to obtain the delivery ofstearn desired .at/the desired temperature andat the desi-red pressure; this control may with advantage be automatic. Owing to its entirely tubular construction, this apparatus is able to supply steam at very highpressure for example, M00 lb. to the sqf. inch) and to function with a very high boiling temperature [(:for exam-ple, 300 C. (572'o4 F.)'[='6`00* FJ] without prejudice to the superheating of this steam.

The apparatus described may be modified in various ways, especially as regards the form and arrangement of the tube system, the number, length and cross-section of the tubes, et'c. The form of construction which has been described relates to a specification forv which a large' space in height is available, as isi the case in thermal", electric and other stations, or in large ships.

What I claim is:

1. A rapid vaporization steam boiler adapted to be red with solid lumpy fuel comprising a receptable for lumpy fuel, a substantially vertical central shaft arranged in said receptable, tubes adapted 'to be fed with water to be vaporized arranged Within said shaft, a refractory lined substantially vertical shaft Within said receptacle aligned with said first-named shaft and below the latter whose upper end opens into the lower end of said first-named shaft and whose lower end opens into a fire room in which said fuel forms a crumbling crater, said refractory lined shaft defining an intermediate combustion chamber, an inner concentric shell within said firstnamed shaft surrounding said tubes and defining an air duct with said shaft, primary air heating ducts in the refractory lining of said second shaft forming a straight prolongation of said rstnamed air duct for first preheating and then heating air in its course to said re room, said second-named air ducts having outlets directed to cause the heated air to lick the 'crumbling crater formed by the fue] with a general whirling movement, said intermediate combustion chamber lying entirely below the tube-containing portion of said first-named shaft. and said inner concentric shell `extending in axial [straight] prolongation of the wall of said intermediate combustion chamber.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 in which a protective water circulating tube is provided at the base of said refractory lined [line] substantially vertical shaft and above said reroom.

3. An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said tubes comprise a system of three superposed tube sections including an initial vaporieation section lowermost in the system, a uaporization section uppermost in the system, and a superheating section intermediate the other two sections, said sections bcing serially connected such that the water flows successively upwardly through the initial caporization section, then upwardly through the second named uaporieation section, and then downwardly through the superheating sectionI 4. An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said tubes comprise a system of three superposed helical tube sections including an initial uaporization section Zowermost in the system, a 'vaporieation section uppermost in the system, and a superheating section intermediate the other two sections, a helical recuperator tube surrounding said system and a helical recuperator coil above the system, said coil, tube and sections being serially connected such that the water flows successively downwardly through the recuperator coil, then downwardly through the recuperator tube, then upwardly through the initial vaporization section, tihen upwardly through the second named uaporieation section, and then downwardly through the superheating section.

5. A rapid uaporization steam boiler adapted to be fired with solid lumpy fuel comprising a receptacle for lumpy fuel, a substantially vertical central shaft arranged in said receptacle, tubes adapted to be fed with water to be vaporized arranged within said shaft, said tubes comprising a system of three superposed tube sections including an initial uaporization section lowerrnost in the system, a uaporieation section uppermost in the system, and a superheating section intermediate the other two sections, said sections being serially connected such that the water flows successively upwardly through the initial 'vaporization section, then upwardly through they second named yaporization section, and then downwardly through the superheating section, a combustion chamber in the lower part of the central shaft below which fuel dropping down around the shaft forms a crumbling crater, and means defining a duct around said shaft for directing air downwardly along the shaft to the crater-f all whereby the flow of air, water and fuel is downward except the flow of water in the initial vaporieation and yaporieation sections so as to tend to restore escaping heat energy picked up by the air, water and' fuel to the portions of the boiler where it may be used.

` 6. A rapid 'vaporization steam boiler adapted to be fired with solid lumpy fuel comprising a receptacle for lumpy fuel, a substantially vertical central shaft arranged in said receptacle, tubes adapted to be fed with water to be vaporieed arranged within said shaft, said tubes comprising a system of three superposed helical tube sections including an initial uaporization section lowermost in the system, a uaporization section uppermost in the system, and a superheating section intermediate the other two sections, a helical recuperator tube surrounding said system and a helical recuperatorl coil above the system, said coil, tube and sections being serially connected such that the water flow-s successively downwardly through the recuperator coil, then downwardly through the recuperator tube, then upwardly through the initial uaporieation section, then upwardly through the second named 'vaporization section, and then downwardly through the superheating section, a combustion chamber in the lower part of the central shaft below which fuel dropping down around the shaft forms a crumbling crater, and means defining a duct around said shaft for directing air downward along the shaft to the craterall whereby the flow of air, water and fuel is downward except the flow of water in the initial uaporieation and uaporieation sections so as to tend' to restore escaping heat energy picked up by the air, water and fuel to the portions of the boiler where it may be used.

ROBERT ESNAULT-PELTERIE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent or the original patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 851,030 Reck Apr. 23, 1907 994,830 Fortune June 13, 1911 1,189,429 Clarkson July 4, 1916 1,196,145 Pinguely Aug. 29, 1916 1,627,399 Messler May 3, 1927 1,975,096 Fletcher Oct. 2, 1934 1,998,329 Mechelke Apr. 16, 1935 2,011,423 Sheldon Aug. 13, 1935 2,170,344 Dickey Aug. 22, 1939 2,201,621 La Mont May 21,1940

2,423,997 Ruegg July 15, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 394 Sardinia June 30, 1857 

